Bruce: Bent deserves England chance
Steve Bruce has urged England boss Fabio Capello to make the most of Darren Bent, starting with tonight's Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria.
The Sunderland striker has been one of the beneficiaries of England's World Cup disaster in South Africa this summer, being called up for Capello's new Three Lions squad as renewed interest is taken in what the 26-year-old might have to offer in the wake of so many star players having a poor tournament.
But Black Cats boss Bruce has begged Capello to give Bent a realistic chance this time, rather than include him in the squad and giving him a brief run-out before discarding him – which was the striker's fate in the pre-World Cup training camp.
"I hope he gets a chance tonight, I really do," said Bruce. "He deserves it."
"Darren was part of the 30-man provisional World Cup squad, but he only played 45 minutes of the friendly against Japan and was injured for the last warm-up game against Mexico.
"When the final World Cup squad came out, he was bitterly disappointed at missing out after doing so well last season.
"Everyone at the club had to try and pick him up a bit. But Mr Capello put him in the squad for the friendly against Hungary last month and, while he had to pull out through injury, he is in the squad for the qualifiers.
"So, if he gets a proper chance, who knows?"
"I said all along that I would have taken him to the World Cup, but I would say that, wouldn't I?
"What is important, though, is that he gets his opportunity, that he gets a proper crack of the whip because there's no point bringing him if you're not going to give him a real chance to make an impact.
"And when you look at his goalscoring record – not just at Sunderland but down the years – he genuinely deserves it.
"He's a natural goalscorer and I think he has the capacity to score at any level.
"Those are the sort of players you want in any squad and I think it's about time that people started looking at his strengths rather than his weaknesses."
Bent was left out of the World Cup squad despite scoring 25 goals last season – 24 of which came in the Premier League, making him the highest scoring English player after Manchester United's Wayne Rooney.
But England flopped in South Africa, causing coach Capello to take a hard look at his players and discard some of those who disappointed and bring in some fresh blood.
Bent is one of just four strikers – joined by Rooney, Jermaine Defoe and Carlton Cole – in the squad for England's opening Euro qualifiers against Bulgaria at Wembley tonight and Switzerland in Basle on Tuesday, and is hoping Capello will give him a chance to add to his six caps and prove he can perform on the international stage.
Capello could opt to go for Rooney as a lone striker, or play Steven Gerrard just behind the Manchester United star.
The case for Bent, though, remains strong. He has scored four goals in as many games this season, continuing the prolific streak which lit up his debut campaign with Sunderland.
But whatever happens, Bruce is backing Bent to take it all in his stride and says his previous disappointments with England will not affect his future performances for the Three Lions.
"The one thing about Darren is that he thrives on adversity," mused the Sunderland boss. "People knock him and doubt him but he usually comes back firing and I am sure that he'll have fire in his belly again.
"It was a remarkable achievement to score 24 Premier League goals last season. For me, he deserved to go – but I didn't pick the squad."
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Weather for Sunderland
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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